Sol: The True Self

by Joshua Chou

  “Nobody likes being caged in,” said Nora. She hadn’t noticed Ethan enter the room yet. “And how long can you stand being like this?”

  Sophie’s Wraith glanced around once more. It cocked its head almost completely 180 degrees to see Ethan enter the room. Wraiths certainly could twist the body how they pleased, yet A.X.E.L. had this one in their clutches.

  Iris’ goon squad continued to occupy the room. A couple stepped out into the hall for their own coffee break. Most of them stayed in case the Wraith needed to be restrained.

  Ethan stole another glance at Sophie’s Wraith. Her transformation hadn’t happened yet. It was a Lesser Wraith, a variant that could only whisper dark thoughts to its host.

  Almost like Gabriel, Ethan thought. Just as annoying, but a lot smaller and can’t cast magic.

  Evidently this Wraith was too weak to transform any sooner. Sophie’s Wraith had possession of her body, but was confined to the chair. If it did start to gather strength, everyone else in the room had a talisman to exorcise it immediately.

  Sophie’s Wraith began twitching her hand and wrist. A few hands went for their pockets. Their target was confined for now, but they were ready.

  “You’re going into withdraw right now,” Nora noted. “It’s only going to get worse.”

  “That’s just the ADHD,” Sophie Wraith replied.

  Suddenly, irregular electric beeping pierced Ethan’s ear. He glanced to the desk, seeing the lie detector going off.

  “This is taking too long,” said Iris.

  “She has to budge,” said Nora. “Just give me more time.”

  The electronic beeping only got faster. Sophie’s Wraith began to writhe in her chair. Unlike Hector or Winston’s transformations, hers had no black mist. She was twisting in place out of pain.

  Ethan nearly dropped the bagged lunch in his hands. He could feel the warmth of a talisman in his pocket. If need be, he could exorcise Sophie’s Wraith right now.

  Speaking of which, the unholy creature choked out, “Give. Me. My. Pills.”

  Nora slapped the desk with one hand. “Now hold on—”

  “I’ll take over from here,” said Iris.

  Iris rose from her position. Her fingers unwound and reached for her briefcase. Iris’ fingers plucked the case’s locks open and reached inside. Ethan couldn’t see what she was reaching for. Nora stared in anticipation at what she was about to do.

  She held up a vial of clear fluid. The seal of the Holy Catholic Church, an embroidered cross in a wax seal, rested on the bottle. Now this was something Ethan never saw before, but he had heard of plenty of times.

  This was bona fide holy water, straight from the Vatican in Rome. It was purifying in most cases, and very dangerous to Wraiths.

  Despite her struggling, Sophie’s Wraith tried to wrench itself out of the chair. The cuffs kept its frail body in place. Iris approached Sophie’s Wraith and uncapped the bottle.

  “You’ll kill this girl if you exorcise me,” said the monster.

  “I can take my time,” Iris coldly replied.

  She tilted the small glass container. A trickle of holy water poured from the lip. It touched the wrist of Sophie’s Wraith, and smoke rose from contact.

  Sophie’s Wraith shrieked. Her skin continued to burn. “You hag! How dare you?”

  Nora looked to Sophie’s eyes. She watched for some kind of change. But those eyes remained a sinter shade of gold.

  “It’s going to get worse,” said Iris. “Talk.”

  The air began to stink of brimstone. It was the smell of something dying and still struggling to cling to life. Ethan could smell it from behind the other men he was standing behind.

  He could only imagine what it smelled like from Nora’s position. Even now she was twisting her face at the smell of something so rancid in the air.

  “It hurts!” said Sophie. Her voice was not as distorted as it usually was. “Please!”

  Ethan and Nora finally exchanged glances. Was this it? The usual signs of exorcism weren’t showing: a flash of light, the black mist being expelled from the body, and the return of the host to consciousness.

  It was too early. Iris kept pouring the holy water.

  Sophie’s Wraith screamed again. More smoke rose where the water burned at the demon’s limbs. By now the electronic beeping became continuous noise rather than rhythmic beating. Its grating sound matched Sophie’s failing heart.

  “Cero!” the Wraith shrieked finally. “His name is Cero!”

  “Who is Cero?” Iris asked sternly.

  Sophie’s Wraith took another look at the long burn forming along her hand. Black mist congealed where the water burned at her skin. The flesh was breaking apart at the molecular level. Iris threatened to pour more.

  “Green hoodie! He hangs around 7th Ave and 44th Street!”

  Iris turned to Nora. “The talisman, if you please.”

  Nora wasted no time. She handed the purifying thing to her leader. Iris snatched it and pressed it against Sophie’s Wraith.

  For a moment, the monster almost smiled. It dissipated as black mist leaked from every pore in Sophie’s body. The other A.X.E.L. members watched as the Wraith in front of them was destroyed. Sophie herself began to spasm within the confines of her chair.

  That stopped when the exorcism was complete. Remaining wisps of black mist dissipated. All purifying light was gone. Only the class rep remained.

  Sophie regained control of her body and went lax. Her back slumped backwards as she rested upon the chair to keep her head up.

  Iris removed the talisman. She tossed the expired paper into a nearby waste paper basket. Ethan said not a word as she packed up her holy water and held up the briefcase.

  “The door,” Iris called out.

  Winston was still in the room. He briskly turned and opened the door. Iris began to leave, but she pointed to Sophie.

  “Send her home,” Iris said sternly. “I’m done here.”

  Chapter 20 - Weakness

  When Iris was gone, Ethan turned to his friend. Nora brushed past him and left the office immediately.

  Once she was gone, the other agents in the room began to vacate the premises. This wasn’t their office, after all. Soon the security guards would need their room back, and A.X.E.L. already finished their business.

  “Guess that’s it,” said a voice in the mob.

  “Better get back uptown, huh?” said another. “See if the girl’s awake.”

  These were all North Precinct personnel, and they had to go back to their side of New York. They were only out here because Iris specifically called for more support.

  Now that the exorcism trap was finished, the North Precinct could leave. There were other agents managing that part of town. But manpower was crucial in keeping the peace from other Wraiths, so they had to return to their own district as soon as possible.

  “Miss Crawford?” asked the first speaker. “It’s time to go now. Can you walk?”

  Sophie was conscious, but very weak. She nodded.

  The first few men unbound her wrists. She struggled to rise, but Sophie managed to stand on her wobbling ankles.

  “I’m leaving,” Sophie said in a near-whisper.

  The North Precinct promptly escorted her out of the Security Office. There would be a place for Sophie to rest in the lobby, but they had to leave the room now.

  Those security guards in the lobby would surely come back any minute. Before then, Ethan had to help clean up a bit.

  At least this exorcism didn’t leave much of a mess behind. Other cases involved the Wraith victims vomiting or spilling their insides out.

  The faint smell of sulfur hung in the air. It was just as putrid as it was when Iris began burning the Wraith’s skin off. Chances were that the smell would stay in this confined office if no one let it out.

  Better ventilate that stuff out, Ethan thought. He put down his team’s sandwiches and opened a nearby window. Fresh urban air flowed through, with all its common an
d not-so-unholy smells.

  “Well that was something,” said Winston.

  “You get used to it,” Ethan replied.

  Winston also opened the window closest to him. Ethan noticed that he was almost glad to get some fresh air. Perhaps he had been cooped up in her long enough to appreciate the commonplace stench of the city.

  Or maybe he wants to talk?

  He folded his arms and leaned his back against the window frame.

  “So, uh, this A.X.E.L. business is dirty, isn’t it?” Winston asked.

  “Did the screaming not tip you off?”

  Ethan mimicked Sophie’s Wraith writhing in her chair and wailing at the top of its lungs. Winston briefly smirked at the sight of that, but he wiped that smile off his face quickly.

  “No, I’m just saying it’s not what you guys said it would be,” Winston replied. He pointed to the confined walls around them. “Can’t believe I didn’t expect all this.”

  “We didn’t say?” Ethan said with a shrug.

  “I guess you didn’t?”said Winston.

  Ethan folded his arms. “We didn’t tell the whole truth,” he replied. “Will that be a problem?”

  Winston frowned. “Depends. Are you going to do something bad if I leave?”

  “No,” said Ethan. “Nobody’s making you stay. You can leave whenever you want, and we won’t hold it against you. But just know that everything we do is to protect the people. And that means getting our hands dirty.”

  Ethan waited for Winston to ruminate on that thought. When he was done, Winston looked back at him with disdain.

  “So this is how we save lives?” asked Winston."Torturing them?”

  He glared at his mentor. Ethan said nothing and returned the detestable expression. Winston had a steadfast expression that was not going to change so easily.

  Of course, he wouldn’t see the bigger picture.

  Ethan didn’t expect to change Winston’s mind at this moment either. This job will do that to him eventually.

  Ethan leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes."I don’t like it either,” he replied. “But we can’t deal with the Wraith drug problem by sitting on our hands, now can we?”

  A strange silence followed.

  Ethan could feel Winston staring daggers at Ethan. Though they were on the same side, it would take some time for Winston to see things Ethan’s way.

  Perhaps they would catch their mystery dealer “Cero” before Winston could push Ethan further. Or else more people might get caught in this mess.

  As quickly as they had assembled, the other agents left. They streamed out while Ethan and Winston let in the fresh air into the room. By now the place was nearly empty, except for the West Precinct’s newest interns.

  When the last man picked up his coat and walked out of the halls, Liam returned to the building. He tossed a used wrapper in the waste paper bin.

  “So what’d I miss?” he asked.

  “Not much,” Ethan replied.

  Winston pointed to Liam. “I never asked,” he said. “But is he your gear dude?”

  Liam raised an eyebrow. “Gear what?” he asked.

  “Like in every spy movie ever?” Winston began counting with his fingers. “The, uh, guy who gives Bond his stuff. Q, or something? Are you the guy who gives us our stuff?”

  Ethan had to hold in a snicker. Liam, however, began laughing loudly.

  “That’s the first time I’ve heard that one,” he said. “Come on, I need to pack a few things in here. Would you mind helping me out, Winston? The sooner we pack up, the sooner we can leave.”

  Winston nodded. “Sure.”

  Ethan rose and approached the exit. “Lunch is in the bag if you want it,” he said over his shoulder. “Feel free to take extra; Iris forgot her sandwich.”

  He promptly left. Winston didn’t follow him out. Liam was most likely going to chow down on the remaining food. Chances were that he wouldn’t stop Ethan either.

  Liam could handle things from here. If they had something else to say to Ethan, the other guys could wait. Ethan had to check on Nora.

  Most of the real guards were moving back to the office, now that A.X.E.L.’s business was finished. Sophie was long gone as well, and Iris was just outside the building speaking with another EU guard.

  Ethan spotted her in the lounge. Nora had her head down. Her hands were wrapped together as she stared at the ground. She was alone, and she was absolutely defeated.

  “What do you want?” asked Nora.

  He tentatively walked over. “To talk? This is the first time I’ve seen you like this.”

  He stepped over to Nora’s side. Nora did not move or turn to look at him. She bitterly stuck a thumb towards Iris outside.

  “Doesn’t Iris still need her lapdog?” asked Nora. “How could you play along?”

  Ethan looked back down the hall. No one was coming in their direction, so he knew he could confess without someone else hearing him.

  “Because I didn’t want another accident,” he said.

  Nora straightened her back. Her eyes were glazed over, as if someone had turned off the live wire in her brain that kept her happy. All the enthusiasm she should have had was extinguished.

  “Same difference,” she finally said. “I effed it all up.”

  “For what it’s worth, Nora,” said Ethan. “I still think you’re perfectly fine.”

  His friend lumbered to her feet. Nora began to turn the other way.

  “Easy for you to say,” she said with her back turned. “You aren’t pathetic or weak. You have a Sol, I don’t. What do I have? Exorcism skills, and that’s it. Just let me be useful, alright?”

  Before Ethan could get another word in, she left. Nora said nothing as she walked past Iris. Their leader said nothing as Nora left the Security Office and crossed the street back into Union Square.

  Ethan could not turn away all the while. He watched her somberly retreat into the crowd to lose herself. For an instant, he almost thought he was looking at himself in someone else.

  “Funny you should say that,” Ethan muttered to himself.

  ***

  Sophie finally escaped the gaze of A.X.E.L.’s goons.

  Even after the exorcism, they needed to be sure she was safe enough to let go. She wasn’t sure what they were looking for, but they asked questions that sounded more patronizing than concerned.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Miss Crawford, do you hear any strange sounds?”

  “Do you feel any unusual chills in your body?”

  Iris’ goons continued to grill her with questions. Sophie had to tune out their questions to retain her dwindling sanity. Eventually they stopped and let her go.

  By now they stood outside of EU’s library. The building was big and blocky, but it was somewhere that A.X.E.L. couldn’t follow. The largest A.X.E.L. agent held out a hand to stop Sophie. He cleared his throat.

  “Miss Crawford, you are free to go,” the largest agent said. His tone was as cold as it was unbearable. “You may contact any authority line if you experience further Wraith issues. Any and all demonic activity must be reported as soon as possible-”

  “Do I also have the right to an attorney?” asked Sophie.

  “Not, because you were under the influence of a Wraith,” said another agent, who was just as unfeeling.

  This agent shook his head. “The law will decide if you are good to go.”

  “Do you know my father can file one hell of a lawsuit against your organization?”

  “Noted,” he replied. The second agent turned to the first. “She’s heard enough. Let’s get back uptown.”

  They finally left her. Sophie half expected them to turn with handcuffs in hand. But they really did leave.

  Silence followed. No authorities. No father to make matters worse.

  No little voice whispering thoughts into her head.

  Sophie was alone as she could be in a city that couldn’t leave her alone. She looked ov
er her shoulder. She used to hear someone speak into her ear. She also doubted that anyone would believe her if she confessed to hearing voices too.

  She felt her pocket. They were empty.

  “Wonder if anyone else is selling?” Sophie muttered to herself.

  So that was a Wraith? No wonder she couldn’t relax these past few weeks. Or maybe the Wraith appeared in the midst of the problems in her life?

  “Sophie?” asked someone with a lighter tone.

  That voice was familiar. Sophie recognized it from the interrogation. She glanced aside to see Nora hastily run back to her.

  The petite girl dug her heels into the asphalt to stop and catch her breath. She leaned over and put her hands over her knees for support. Sophie was almost impressed. Evidently Nora ran a long distance to get here.

  “Yes?” asked Sophie.

  Nora stood back up. Her cheeks were red, but so were her eyes. “Um, how are you feeling?”

  “What do you want?”

  “To talk?”

  Sophie briskly turned around. She began to ascend the stairs to enter the library.

  “I’ve had enough listening for a while,” Sophie replied. “Go away.”

  “Wait!” Nora yelled.

  Sophie stopped with one foot on the next stair. She turned. Nora balled both fists and stared back with a desperate fear in her eyes.

  “You’re alive!” said Nora. “We stopped that monster early enough, right?”

  “And you took my pills,” Sophie replied. Her voice remained cold and calloused. “Those were the last thing keeping me together. And now I’ve got nothing.”

  “But there are other treatments!”

  Sophie shook her head. “No there aren’t. Can you cure a dad that breathes down your neck? Or feds that think you’re below them because you’re a junkie?”

  This time it was her turn to command the conversation. Nora dared not look away.

  “You think you know better because you’re a cop or whatever,” said Sophie. “But you don’t care about me. You never did until today. I bet you never knew my name until I started having problems.”

  She pointed back to the Union Square Security Office. “All you care about is your job with that hag, Iris,” said Sophie. “And now you’re so desperate and pathetic that you can’t leave me alone.”